Persecution

Homily #150329n (19min) Play – Father compares the gospel from the blessing of the Palms to the Passion read during Mass, and observes that in less than a week, the people went from shouting “Hosanna” to “Crucify.” The scandal of the Cross made them fall away. In this world, Our Lord reigns from the Cross, and if we are to follow Him, we must pick up our own crosses and be crucified with Him. Father presents the example of Bl. Jose Sanchez del Rio, a young boy who gave his life for “Christ the King” in Mexico less than 90 years ago. We must draw near the Cross, and be willing to swim against the current and resist the “Lord of this World.” The only persons to remain faithful to Our Lord, are those who went with Our Lady, let us go to Her so as not to wimp out when we encounter the Cross.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Palm Sunday – Sunday – Form: OFReadings:
1st: isa 50:4-7
Resp: psa 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
2nd: phi 2:6-11
Gsp: mar 14:1-15:47

Homily #150308n (09min) Play – Father comments on the wisdom of God who allows suffering and evil. He tells us that, “if we had the power of God, we would change much, but if we had His wisdom, we wouldn’t change anything.” It is while suffering we begin to see the wisdom of God who allows some evil (never forget all the good He gives us at every moment) to make us grow in virtue and purify the temple of our hearts.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Sunday 3rd Week of Lent – Solemnity – Form: OFReadings:
1st: exo 20:1-17
Resp: psa 19:8, 9, 10, 11
2nd: 1co 1:22-25
Gsp: joh 2:13-25

Homily #150305n (04min) Play – Father comments on the words of Our Lord today, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” He tells us that this was fulfilled in those who refused to believe from after the Resurrection even to our day. Of these, many respond to the teachings of Christ with hatred and scorn, and we now see various laws being put into place to criminalize the teachings of Christ and His Church. We must stand for the Truth, regardless of what it may cost us.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Thursday 2nd Week of Lent – Wkdy – Form: OFReadings:
1st: jer 17:5-10
Resp: psa 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6
Gsp: luk 16:19-31

Homily #150215n (08min) Play – Father comments on today’s Gospel, telling us that as Jesus reached out and healed the leper, He also reaches out and heals us of our leprosy, sin, through the Sacraments and teachings of the Church. And now it is our role to, by our good example, be the hand that Jesus reaches out through and touches others, testifying that we know very little about Jesus, but we do know what He has done for us.
Ave Maria!
Mass: 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday – Form: OFReadings:
1st: lev 13:1-2, 44-46
Resp: psa 32:1-2, 5, 11
2nd: 1co 10:31-11:1
Gsp: mar 1:40-45

Homily #141226n (06min) Play – Father comments on the Feast of St. Steven, the Protomartyr, and tells us that this reminds us that the joy of Christmas, of the Incarnation, intrinsically calls for witnesses who are ready and willing to give testimony for what they believe. If it seems we have peace with the world, Father tells us, we need to examine to see if we have peace because we have capitulated to the world’s demands and we need to remember that this peace will never last long since there is no peace between the world and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must always be ready to witness, for we don’t know when the time will come or what will be asked of us, it could be our very lives, but whatever else happens, we must not betray the dignity we have of being Children of God.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Stephen – The Protomartyr – Feast – Form: OFReadings:
1st: act 6:8-10, 7, 54-59
Resp: psa 31:3-4, 6, 7, 8, 17, 21
Gsp: mat 10:17-22

Homily #141208n (12min) Play – In recent times, there has been a departure from the tradition of translating the protogospel as “She Will Crush Your Head” to “He Will Crush Your Head.” Leaving this controversy aside, Father tells us that both are valid, and the ambiguous language in the Hebrew underscores the indissoluble union between Jesus and Mary in the work of redemption. Quoting from the Fathers and the Magisterium, Father proves that this prophecy is indeed a reference to the eternal enmity between the Blessed Virgin and Satan. But not just between Her and the Serpent, but also between Her offspring and his. In the end, mankind will be divided between to sides, the offspring of the Woman, and the offspring of the Serpent, and we must choose our side right now.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Solemnity – Form: OFReadings:
1st: gen 3:9-15, 20
Resp: psa 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
2nd: eph 1:3-6, 11-12
Gsp: luk 1:26-38

Homily #141125n (06min) Play – Father comments on the apocalyptic prophesies in today’s Gospel passage, telling us that if we are ready to meet Christ now, whether it be the end of the world or at our death, we have nothing to fear. St. Catherine, today’s saint, lived this readiness, and was willing to give all for Christ when she was asked. We do not know when the end or our end will come, Our Lord is purposefully vague in response to his disciples’ curiosity, but we need not be afraid, but go forward, boldly reaching out to all and proclaiming the Good News.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Catherine of Alexandria – Opt Mem – Form: OFReadings: Tuesday in the 34th Week in Ordinary Time
1st: rev 14:14-19
Resp: psa 96:10, 11-12, 13
Gsp: luk 21:5-11

Homily #140929n (11min) Play – Father Matthias shows us the importance of having recourse to St. Michael by pulling from the words and actions of the modern Popes. Let us call upon St. Michael to defend us from sin and evil, from that which is outside of us and especially that which is inside of us. We cannot overcome evil with evil, but only with good!
Ave Maria!
Mass: Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (alt Reading) – Feast – Form: OFReadings:
1st: rev 12:7-12
Resp: psa 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5
Gsp: joh 1:47-51

Homily #140829n ( 15min) Play – Father Matthias comments that today’s liturgy calls martyrdom a “privilege.” He comments on the continuing horrors in the Middle East, its potential to spread to the West, and the place of violence in Islamic theology and history. We must look to the example of constancy that our brothers in the Middle East are giving, and strive to spiritual prepare for the possibility of being asked to do the same. Finally, let us have recourse to the Rosary, for “Rosary Crusades” have proved themselves as a decisive weapon in the fight against the forces of darkness.
Ave Maria!
Mass: The Beheading of St. John the Baptist – Mem – Form: OFReadings: Friday in the 21st Week in Ordinary Time
1st: 1co 1:17-25
Resp: psa 33:1-2, 4-5, 10, 11
Gsp: mat 25:1-13

Fr. Angelo Geiger makes a special guest appearance on Radio Gate of Heaven, a weekly program run by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate in Perth, Australia. He speaks about the current situation in Iraq with the Chaldean Christians. The program concludes with a telephone interview with an Iraqi Catholic living in Sydney, Australia.

In February 1943 Franz was called up again for military service. He presented himself at the induction centre on 1 March 1943 and announced his refusal to fight, offering to carry out non-violent services: this was denied him.

He was held in custody at Linz in March and April, transferred to Berlin-Tegel in May and subject to trial on 6 July 1943 when he was condemned to death for sedition. The prison chaplain was struck by the man’s tranquil character. On being offered the New Testament, he replied: “I am completely bound in inner union with the Lord, and any reading would only interrupt my communication with my God”.

On 9 August, before being executed, Franz wrote: “If I must write… with my hands in chains, I find that much better than if my will were in chains. Neither prison nor chains nor sentence of death can rob a man of the Faith and his free will. God gives so much strength that it is possible to bear any suffering…. People worry about the obligations of conscience as they concern my wife and children.

But I cannot believe that, just because one has a wife and children, a man is free to offend God”.

Franz Jägerstätter, who would not bow his head to Hitler, bowed his head to God, and the guillotine took care of the rest. He was obviously called up to serve a higher order.

The rest of this short biography can be found at the Vatican website at www.vatican.va

Homily #140809n (10min) Play – Father Louis Maximilian speaks of the first reading, and comments that we often are dissatisfied with when we see unjustice, but God does not act. We must learn to see with the eyes of God, and seek His understanding, even if that differs from our own. And before we seek justice in the world, we must first seek it in our hearts. Justice ultimately comes from God, both in the external world, and more importantly, justice comes into our hearts from the atoning sacrifice of the Cross, from Jesus, and not from ourselves. We must have faith in God and in His ways, He will act in His way and at the time He chooses. If we are disturbed at what seems to be His inaction, we are lacking in faith. Let us turn to “She who believed” and ask for this grace of a unshakeable faith.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) – Opt Mem – Form: OFReadings: Saturday in the 18th Week in Ordinary Time
1st: hab 1:12-2:4
Resp: psa 9:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
Gsp: mat 17:14-20

Homily #140727n (18min) Play – Father reminds us that “that all things work for good for those who love God,” and that this presupposes Faith in Providence (a.k.a. God’s loving plan for everything) and Love of God. As an example, Father turns our attention to the tribulation Iraqi Christians are currently undergoing and gives a short commentary on Islam and how we all can defend against it by living lives strongly founded on Christian Faith. For an example of strong and courageous faith, we can take the example of our Iraqi brethren and, in particular, the example of Patriarch Sako in his exhortation to the Christians in Iraq. Father asks us to examine ourselves, if we aren’t ready to practice our faith in peace, how will we be ready when persecution comes to us?